For the inaugural occasion in Indian cinema's history, the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures in Los Angeles showcased a curated collection of 12 seminal films titled "Emotion in Colour: A Kaleidoscope of Indian Cinema," curated by Shivendra Singh Dungarpur, from March 7 to April 19, 2025.
This groundbreaking series has been thoughtfully curated by acclaimed filmmaker and preservationist Shivendra Singh Dungarpur, the founding director of Film Heritage Foundation, a not-for-profit organization dedicated to preserving India’s cinematic legacy. The program explores the evolution of color in Indian cinema and its transformative role in shaping visual storytelling and emotional resonance.
The series aims to emphasize the vast richness and diversity of Indian cinema, spanning decades, regions, languages, and genres. Featured films encapsulate the grandeur of period dramas, the defiant voices of feminist narratives during colonial rule, and the hopes of a newly independent nation. They delve into intricate political dramas, the escapist joy of romance, and reflective works of Parallel and experimental cinema.
The eclectic selection includes celebrated masterpieces such as ‘Mother India’, ‘Manthan’, ‘Amar Akbar Anthony’, ‘Ishanou, Kummatty’, Mirch Masala, ‘Devdas, ‘Dilwale Dulhaniya Le Jayenge’, ‘Jodhaa Akbar’, ‘Kanchenjungha’, ‘Maya Darpan’ and ‘Iruvar’, each offering a unique lens into Indian cinema’s extraordinary relationship with color, culture and storytelling.
Shivendra Singh Dungarpur states, "In India, color is inextricably woven into the fabric of our culture and artistry, and this is profoundly evident in our cinema. When the Academy Museum invited me to curate a program of Indian films, I saw a rare opportunity to present the unparalleled diversity and vibrancy of Indian cinema in color to a largely unfamiliar audience. Beyond Hindi cinema, India boasts five major film industries—Tamil, Telugu, Kannada, Malayalam, and Bengali—that collectively produce over 2,000 films annually, alongside a multitude of productions in other languages and dialects from every corner of the country. These twelve films are more than just a celebration of cinematic artistry; they are a vivid mosaic of language, culture and color, offering audiences in Los Angeles a glimpse into the boundless kaleidoscope of Indian cinema."
This series stands as a monumental showcase, introducing audiences to the artistry and heritage of Indian filmmaking, while celebrating its kaleidoscopic beauty, vibrancy and cultural depth.
THE FILM SCREENINGS
• Saturday, March 8 – Mother India (Hindi / 1957) – directed by Mehboob Khan
• Monday, March 10 – Manthan (Hindi / 1976) – directed by Shyam Benegal
• Monday, March 10 – Amar Akbar Anthony (Hindi / 1977) – directed by Manmohan Desai
• Tuesday, March 11 – Ishanou (Manipuri./ 1990) – directed by Aribam Syam Sharma
• Friday, March 14 – Kummatty (Malayalam / 1979) – directed by Aravindan Govindan
• Tuesday, March 18 – Mirch Masala (Hindi / 1987) – directed by Ketan Mehta
• Saturday, March 22 – Devdas (Hindi / 2002) – directed by Sanjay Leela Bhansali
• Sunday, March 20 – Dilwale Dulhaniya Le Jayenge (Hindi / 1995) – directed by Aditya Chopra
• Monday, March 31 – Jodhaa Akbar (Hindi / 2008) – directed by Ashutosh Gowariker
• Saturday, April 5 – Kanchenjungha (Bengali /1962) – directed by Satyajit Ray
• Tuesday, April 8 – Maya Darpan (Hindi / 1972) – directed by Kumar Shahani
• Sunday, April 20 – Iruvar (Tamil / 1997) – directed by Mani Ratnam
